Tonight, SundanceTV is broadcasting the U.S. premiere of Cleverman, a new six-part series that puts an original spin on Aboriginal myths.
In the world of Cleverman, there is humanity as we know it and another humanoid race called the Hairypeople or “Hairies.” They live among us, some more openly than others. Some Hairies can choose to blend in with humans by shaving their excess body hair, but those who don’t face prejudice from a society that doesn’t exactly want them around.
Within the show, the titular Cleverman will hold the key to uniting the two races. In Aboriginal culture, the Cleverman is the conduit between the Dreaming and the waking world we inhabit. That person is down to two men on this series: Koen (Hunter Page-Lochard) and Waruu (Rob Collins). They are half-brothers and they hate each other…a lot.
CraveOnline has an exclusive preview clip from tonight’s premiere in which Waruu pays Koen a visit at his bar, and it ends quite badly for one of them! Fair warning for the squeamish, you may want to look away when someone’s hand is grabbed…
If you want to learn more about Cleverman, we have a character guide posted below which has all of the information you need about this show and the world it inhabits. You may even see a few familiar faces, including Game of Thrones star Iain Glen as Slade, a businessman with an unusual interest in the Hairies and the Cleverman.
The first episode of Cleverman will air at 10pm PST/EST, tonight on SundanceTV.
Photo Credits: Australian Broadcasting Corporation/SundanceTV
Cleverman Season 1 Gallery
Cleverman
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Koen West (Hunter Page-Lochard)
Meet your new Cleverman, the so-called chosen being who can bridge the gap between humanity and the Hairies...
Too bad Koen West is anything but a hero when we meet him. He's a bit of a con artist, really. But he's gonna have to grow into his role...and fast.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Waruu West (Rob Collins)
Waruu is Koen's nemesis, and his brother! For most of his life, Waruu believed it was his destiny to be the Cleverman. And he won't stand to his brother take that which is rightfully "his."
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Jarrod Slade (Iain Glen)
Outwardly, Jarrod Slade is a self-made millionaire and philanthropist. But he also has his own agenda for the Hairies that may not be in their best interest...
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Jarrod Slade, Koen West, and Waruu West
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Uncle Jimmy (Jack Charles)
Uncle Jimmy is the father figure for Koen West and Waruu West who finds himself working for Jarrod Slade and sharing more secrets than he should. To make amends, he'll call upon the Cleverman.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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The Family
In this series, the Hairies don't have family names. But this is the primary Hairy family of the series.
From left-to right: Jirra, Latani, Boondee, Araluen, and Djukara.Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Djukara (Tysan Towney)
Djukara is the only son of the lead Hairy family, and a bit of a rebel who appears to be getting more radicalized by the oppression that he and his people receive on a daily basis.
Unlike his parents, Djukara isn't content to wait for things to get better. But he may be too rash for his own good.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Boondee (Tony Briggs) and Djukara (Tysan Towney)
Unlike his son, Djukara, Boondee is willing to shave off his excess hair and pass for human while waiting for their people to be accepted.
He's more patient than Djukara, and probably more naive.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Latani (Rarriwuy Hick) and Djukara (Tysan Towney)
Latani takes after her father, and she even forms friendships with humans. This makes her a believer in peaceful co-existence. But that's not a belief that Djukara shares...
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Charlotte Cleary (Frances O’Connor)
Charlotte Cleary is a doctor who is married to Jarrod Slade. And she is definitely devoted to him. But she soon has reason to question Slade's motives towards the Hairies...
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Blair Finch (Ryan Corr)
Blair is Koen's best friend and the co-owner of the bar they share. But unfortunately, that's not all they share...
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Ash Kerry (Stef Dawson)
Ash is a friend and co-worker with Koen and Blair. But her romance with Blair might be threatened by the mutual attraction between Ash and Koen.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Aunty Linda (Deborah Mailman)
Aunty Linda is the mother figure of Koen and Waruu, who has seemingly been rejected by both men despite her love for them. Her trials are just getting started...
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
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Geoff Matthews (Andrew McFarlane)
Geoff Matthews is a politician who presents himself as having everyone's best interests at heart.
But he is not that man...and his inner darkness will become apparent very quickly.
Photo Credit: ABC/SundanceTV
